The 8 most epic Super Bowl halftime performances ever

It was so sweet of the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons to open for Lady Gaga! While some people come for the football, others come for the snacks and the halftime show. We’ve known for awhile that Lady Gaga would perform the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show, and tonight she proved just how much she could totally crush it. Guys. She. Was. Awesome.

Since 1991, the halftime show has featured prominent pop and rock musicians. The performances, which run about 15 minutes, are carefully cultivated spectacles that have attracted some of the biggest artists of all time. It’s hard to imagine topping last year’s performance by Coldplay featuring Beyoncé and Bruno Mars, but this year, Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl halftime show reached a whole new level of epic.

If you’re still reeling and want to relive some of the other epic Super Bowl performances, here are some of our faves:

1 Michael Jackson in 1993.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-YyK3RaAAs?feature=oembed

You don’t get much more iconic than the King of Pop, especially in the ’90s. There are no other artists who could stand completely still for 90 seconds and still command everyone’s attention.

2 Beyoncé in 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suIg9kTGBVI?feature=oembed

Beyoncé’s solo halftime performance was full of epic moments. First, she reunited with Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to perform “Independent Women Pt. 1,” and then she literally blew out the electricity in the Superdome, which delayed the start of the game for about 10 minutes.

3 Katy Perry in 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE6Y_r5VcdE?feature=oembed

In 2015, Katy Perry’s performance brought us the viral sensation that is “Left Shark.” She also taught a whole new generation about the amazing Missy Elliott.

4 Bruno Mars in 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2i0Bc3f7jk?feature=oembed

Many doubted that Bruno Mars would be able to carry an entire halftime show by himself, but his performance, much like previous performances had that throwback feel and an appearance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

5 Madonna in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3ik_8QjM3U?feature=oembed

Madonna is iconic, so it’s no surprise that her performance would be, too. Featuring LMFAO, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., the performance proved Madonna hadn’t lost her mojo.

6Aerosmith and *Nsync in 2001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-oJKyHHxKk?feature=oembed

This was every ’90s teen girl’s dream. Aerosmith and *NSYNC were at the top of the charts. They each performed their hits (“Bye, Bye, Bye,” “Jaded,” “It’s Gonna Be Me,” and “I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing”). Then they came together with Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly to perform Aerosmith’s biggest hit, “Walk This Way.”

7 Prince in 2007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_czx0hWPlI

Prince was one of the most iconic pop artists…EVER. He was a showman through and through. His halftime performance was like a big party with all of his greatest hits. Ending with “Purple Rain” in the rain is the true definition of epic.

8 Janet Jackson in 2004

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n75nNPE5Zhs?feature=oembed

This is probably the most infamous Super Bowl Halftime performance of all time. If the phrase “nipplegate” doesn’t mean anything to you…well…you’re probably really young. At the end of the performance, during duet of Justin Timberlake’s song “Rock Your Body,” he pulled off a piece of Jackson’s top, revealing her nipple instead of fabric.